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How Is MQA Fareing?

 In another thread here are posters are making comments about MQA suggesting that it isn't a big commercial success, that is should be called DOA, etc.  Yet there are always announcements about companies adopting MQA, testimonials from happy Tidal streamers, etc.
  I'm neutral on MQA but having witnessed more than a few formats go down in flames in my time, and still puzzling over the resurgence of vinyl, I wonder how one measures the marketplace progress of MQA.  Do we look at Tidal subscriptions?  Sales of MQA compatible DACs?  The size of Bob Stuart's house?
mahler123
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
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@lalitk 

MQA is a black box. I guess the benefits depend on whether the MQA lossy de-ringing processed 24bit 192KHz file is better than a lossless bit perfect 24bit 48 KHz file....
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lalitk
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@shadorne

In the words of Peter McGrath, an accomplished recording engineer, A/B comparison between unprocessed hi-rez files of his orchestral recordings, followed by the time-corrected MQA versions, the differences were quite profound. The MQA versions had greater image solidity and three-dimensionality, and wider perceived dynamics.

I am sure you read this not too long ago ~ ’Listening is the only way to judge audio devices’. So do us a favor; beg, borrow or steal a black box and only then report your findings.
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shadorne
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@lalitk  

I see - so there is a time correction and even with lossy compression it sounds better than the original raw full resolution file. Sounds magical!
calloway
870 posts
 
MQA..fully unfolded through my Lumin A1 is amazing. There are more albums available daily. Tidal..accessed through the Lumin app...shows all MQA albums when searched for artist or composer..Easy to find new music. The comparison of MOST MQA vs Tidal HD Masters albums shows MQA to be the winner most every time..
aberyclark
1,355 posts
 
MQA needs a midline non USB  ( $400. - $1200 ) DAC. All I keep hearing in TAS and SP is MQA, MQA, MQA. You either have low end USB portable Dacs. Or high priced Dacs ( Brookly, Manhattan) .  Even Meridians mid priced "direct dac" is not MQA ready. I'm glad my Node2 does have full MQA unfolding thru it's internal dac. Hopefully, Teac, peachtree,Cambridge will come on board soon
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